Long-Term Transportation Plan. April 2008

Transcription

1 Long-Term Transportation Plan

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3 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION PURPOSE OF THE PLAN STUDY PROCESS CONSULTATION TRANSPORTATION PLAN OVERVIEW OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN GOALS TRANSPORTATION PLAN GOALS CONTEXT FEATURES OF THE TRANSPORTATION PLAN PEDESTRIAN PLAN KEY FACTS & FINDINGS: WALKING EXTERNAL INITIATIVES THE CITY S LONG-TERM PEDESTRIAN PLAN BICYCLE PLAN KEY FACTS & FINDINGS: CYCLING EXTERNAL INITIATIVES THE CITY S LONG-TERM BICYCLE PLAN TRANSIT STRATEGY KEY FACTS & FINDINGS: TRANSIT EXTERNAL INITIATIVES THE CITY S LONG-TERM TRANSIT STRATEGY...46 i

4 6.0 ROAD NETWORK PLAN KEY FACTS & FINDINGS: ROAD NETWORK & PARKING EXTERNAL INITIATIVES THE CITY S LONG-TERM ROAD NETWORK PLAN GOODS & SERVICES MOVEMENT STRATEGY KEY FACTS & FINDINGS: GOODS & SERVICES MOVEMENT EXTERNAL INITIATIVES THE CITY S LONG TERM GOODS AND SERVICES MOVEMENT STRATEGY TRAVEL DEMAND MANAGEMENT (TDM) STRATEGY KEY FACTS & FINDINGS: TRAVEL DEMAND MANAGEMENT EXTERNAL INITIATIVES THE CITY S TRAVEL DEMAND MANAGEMENT STRATEGY PRIVATE SECTOR AND OTHER AGENCY INITIATIVES FINANCIAL PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION LIST OF FIGURES Figure ES-1: Process for Developing the City s Transportation Plan... 2 Figure ES-2: Key Features of the... 3 Figure 1: Process for Developing the City s Transportation Plan Figure 2: Consultation Figure 3: Key Features of the Figure 4: Key Facility Enhancements in the District of North Vancouver...37 ii

5 LIST OF TABLES Table ES-1: Transportation Plan Relationship to OCP Policy Paths Table 1: Transportation Plan Relationship to OCP Policy Paths Table 2: Desired Treatments by Pedestrian Area Table 3 Roadway Classification Guidelines Table 4: Travel Demand Management Strategy Table 5: Private Sector and Other Agency Initiatives Table 6: Contribution to OCP Policy Paths Table A.1: Arterial Road Improvements Table A.2: Minor Arterial / Collector Road Improvements Table A.3: Implementation Priorities LIST OF MAPS Map 1: Pedestrian Areas...27 Map 2: Greenways...33 Map 3: Long-Term Bicycle Network Plan...40 Map 4: Proposed Transit Coverage...49 Map 5: External Road Network Initiatives...55 Map 6: Recommended Roadway Classification System...58 Map 7: Proposed Emergency and Disaster Response Routes...60 Map 8: Recommended Corridor Improvements...68 Map 9: Neighbourhood Traffic Calming Areas...72 LIST OF APPENDICES APPENDIX A: Arterial and Collector Road Improvements APPENDIX B: Road Network Plan External Initiatives APPENDIX C: TDM Strategy External Initiatives APPENDIX D: Public Consultation Summary iii

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7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY It has been over 15 years since the last transportation plan was created for the City and District of North Vancouver. Since that time, the City has adopted a new Official Community Plan (OCP), as well as other supporting documents and programs, which emphasize a vision of becoming a more sustainable community that is vibrant, diverse, and liveable. The City has chosen to develop a new sustainable, multi-modal Transportation Plan to serve as a road map for the next decade and beyond and to help it achieve many of the long-term goals and objectives outlined in the OCP. Implementation of the Transportation Plan will directly and indirectly help the City to achieve goals outlined within each Policy Path in the OCP and to move toward its overall Community Vision. It will also help to integrate the Transportation Plan with many of the City s other planning initiatives, such as the land use and parks and greenway strategies. The Transportation Plan will also support the City s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by emphasizing transportation alternatives to the automobile, such as walking, cycling and transit, and by providing a strategy to manage travel demand. In the long term, effective implementation of the Transportation Plan will help the City to achieve many of its goals: What does the Transportation Plan address? Walking Cycling Transit Road Network Goods Movement Travel Demand Management A transportation system with more travel choices for residents and workers A people-oriented, accessible and vibrant community Reduced local greenhouse gas emissions A healthy local economy supported by efficient movement of goods and services A more efficient road network that safely and effectively accommodates all modes Collaboration with our neighbouring municipalities and other agencies Community well being through active living Sense of place through great places, streetscapes and paths for people to interact. 1

8 The development of the was based on the findings of the Interim Report Transportation System Goals & Key Issues, which presented the overall goals and principles for the Transportation Plan, reviewed the current transportation system in the City, and discussed key issues that have been identified through several meetings with community stakeholders and further technical analysis. These issues have been considered in the development of the improvement strategies in subsequent stages of the process. A Discussion Paper was then prepared to develop preliminary improvement strategies and summarize potential features to be included in the Long- Term Transportation Plan for the City of North Vancouver. As shown in Figure ES-1, the development of this has involved an in-depth review of the existing transportation system in North Vancouver and consultation with stakeholders and the public to identify key issues affecting the City. These issues have been used to direct the identification and evaluation of various improvement strategies for all modes of travel, which have then been refined through analysis and further public consultation to develop the long-term Transportation Plan. Subsequent to the adoption of this Transportation Plan, an implementation strategy will be developed to identify priorities and a timeline for completion of the improvement strategies. The implementation strategy will take into consideration the financial resources available to the City, with the maintenance of existing infrastructure taking priority. Figure ES-1: Process for Developing the City s Transportation Plan Review of Existing Transportation Systems Public Consultation Identification of Key Issues Interim Report #1: Transportation System Goals & Key Issues Preliminary Improvement Strategies Public Consultation Long-Term Transportation Plan Implementation Strategy / Prioritization The presents a vision for each of the primary modes of travel namely, walking, cycling, transit, and the road network. In addition, the Transportation Plan provides guidance regarding a Travel Demand Management (TDM) strategy. The key features of are shown in the Figure ES-2 and summarized below. Each component of the contains several features designed to achieve the overall policy objectives for the City of North Vancouver. Although these features are grouped by mode for the purpose of discussion, they are very much interdependent. For example, the Road Network Plan describes features for the Major 2

9 Road Network that include provisions for enhanced pedestrian facilities as well as transit priority measures. This approach ensures that the resulting transportation system improvements are seamless and that the overall vision for a sustainable community is achieved. To this end, the Plan is not a road building strategy. Unlike traditional transportation plans, all roadway network improvements are designed to support priority modes walking, cycling, transit and goods movement along dedicated routes. Improvements for general purpose traffic are concentrated on safety issues and making other modes of travel more attractive. Figure ES-2: Key Features of the Pedestrian Plan 1. Pedestrian Areas & Generators 2. Pedestrian Treatments 3. Greenways 1. Bicycle Network 2. Design Guidelines 3. Bicycle Support Strategies 4. Greenways Transit Strategy 1. Improved Accessibility to Transit 2. Increased Local Area Frequency and Coverage 3. Expanded Frequent Transit Network 4. Transit Priority Treatments 5. U-Pass Program 6. Expanded SeaBus Service and Enhance Terminal A Sustainable Transportation Plan Road Network Plan 1. Updated Roadway Classification System 2. Emergency and Disaster Response Routes 3. Major Road Network Improvement Strategies 4. Arterials, Collectors & Local Road Enhancements 5. Parking Strategies 6. Protect Neighbourhoods Goods & Services Movement Strategy 1. Minimized Delays Along Truck Routes 2. Signage Strategy 3. Effective Use of Freight Infrastructure Travel Demand Management Strategy 1. Integrated Land Use and Transportation Planning 2. Parking Management Strategies 3. Leadership 4. Education & Awareness 3

10 Pedestrian Plan The City of North Vancouver is well suited to walking for local travel. The City already has an extensive network of sidewalks and trails, although there are some missing links in the network, and some newer areas are without pedestrian facilities. The Pedestrian Plan is an essential feature of a sustainable transportation system and ensures that North Vancouver becomes an even more walkable city. The primary features of the Pedestrian Plan include: 1. Pedestrian Areas and Generators. The Pedestrian Plan defines four key pedestrian areas throughout the City in which different implementation priorities and treatments may be considered to reflect their different levels of demand for walking. These Pedestrian Areas include: Pedestrian Precincts Primary Pedestrian Generators Secondary Pedestrian Generators Low Density Residential Areas. 2. Pedestrian Treatments. The Pedestrian Plan includes a range of treatments for each pedestrian area to improve safety, comfort, and convenience, including: sidewalk standards, sidewalk width and accessibility, landscaped boulevards, narrower crossings, curb letdowns, marked crossings, enhanced crosswalk treatments, important connections, accessible pedestrian signals, countdown timers, providing street furniture, enhanced wayfinding signage and maps, public facilities, accessible bus stops, safer design using CPTED principles, street lights, and building design guidelines. 3. Greenways. The City has identified a network of on-street and off-street greenways throughout the community to support recreational walking and cycling. The Greenway corridors are an integral part of the Pedestrian Plan to serve many of the pedestrian areas and to link recreational areas in the City. 4

11 Cycling is an increasingly important mode of transportation region-wide for both local and long-distance trips, and the City of North Vancouver is developing a safe and attractive network of bicycle facilities to accommodate cyclists. In 2006, the City developed an updated a Bicycle Master Plan (BMP) in cooperation with the District of North Vancouver. Many of the recommendations identified in this were identified in the BMP. The primary features of the include: 1. Bicycle Network. The includes an extensive network of new and enhanced facilities within the City that will be integrated with the initiatives of the District, including: A low-level connection between the Lions Gate and Second Narrows Bridges Connections to complete gaps in the network Priority improvements Lower priority improvements Crossing treatments. 2. Design Guidelines. The presents a comprehensive set of guidelines for the design, construction, and maintenance of bicycle facilities. The design guidelines provide direction on the design of on-street and off-street routes as well as crossing treatments. 3. Bicycle Support Strategies. In addition to providing a comprehensive network of bicycle facilities with attractive crossings, support facilities are required to make cycling more convenient. Consequently, providing safe and secure parking at key locations throughout the City is a significant means of encouraging cycling. The identifies key areas in which both short-term and long-term bicycle parking will be provided. 4. Greenways. The City has identified a network of on-street and off-street greenways throughout the community to support recreational walking and cycling. The Greenway corridors are an integral part of the Cycling Plan to link key destinations within the City and surrounding communities. 5

12 Transit Strategy Transit is seen as the primary alternative to car travel in North Vancouver and across the region, as it can offer competitive travel times and reduce overall environmental and community impacts of transportation. The purpose of the Transit Strategy is to confirm support for many planned transit enhancements in the City and identify other desired improvements to increase ridership and customer satisfaction. The primary features of the Transit Strategy include: 1. Improved Accessibility to Transit by enhancing services and facilities for all existing customers and to attract new riders. The core elements outlined below largely involve the overarching direction of TransLink, but require municipal support to bolster accessibility standards and practices within the City. Establish Access Transit Office & Users Advisory Committee Provide better customer support Improve access to transit facilities Increase availability of custom transit Improve safety and security at main transit exchanges. 2. Increased Local Area Frequency and Coverage with conventional and small bus services through additional fleet and service hours. 3. Expanded Frequent Transit Network along key corridors, including: Lonsdale Avenue from Queens Street to Esplanade; Marine Drive between 15 th Street in West Vancouver through to Capilano College; and Marine/Keith/15 th services to augment the local services providing a direct connection between Park Royal and Lonsdale Central. 4. Transit Priority Treatments along each of the frequent transit corridors where delays and congestion exist today or are anticipated to get worse in the future. These treatments include, but are not limited to signal coordination, bus bulges, intersection queue jumpers, and dedicated bus lanes. 5. U-Pass Program. The City supports the expansion of the U-Pass Program to Capilano College. The City will also work with TransLink to examine the potential of developing a similar program for new developments located on main transit corridors. 6. Expanded SeaBus Service and Enhance Terminal to improve transit service to downtown Vancouver and connections to other rapid transit networks that serves other areas of the Lower Mainland. 6

13 Road Network Plan The roadway network represents a critical component of the City s transportation system, as it supports not only automobile traffic, but transit, walking, cycling and goods movements. Effectively, it is the skeleton of the overall transportation system. The City s road network is built out and significant changes (new roads or large-scale widening) are not anticipated or planned in the coming years. The primary objective of the Road Network Plan is to provide a strategy for managing the existing road network and to promote the integration of all travel modes into the system, particularly along major roadways where most improvements have traditionally been oriented to moving singleoccupant cars. The primary features of the Road Network Plan include: 1. Updated Roadway Classification System. In some cases, the existing road classification neither reflects the current or planned role and function of a given roadway as anticipated. As such, the designation for some roadways is recommended to be adjusted to better reflect their current and planned long-term role and function. Some key changes include: Mackay Road is changed from major arterial to minor arterial Jones Avenue is changed from minor arterial to collector Carrie Cates Court is modified from major arterial to collector. 2. Emergency and Disaster Response Routes. The City wants to recognize the importance of disaster and emergency response routes in responding to emergencies and supporting design standards and practices that do not significantly inhibit access and response time for emergency vehicles. To that end, the plan identifies proposed emergency and disaster response routes within the City. 3. Major Road Network Improvement Strategies. The Plan provides for improvement strategies for the Major Road Network to reflect the integrated goals for transit, bicycle, pedestrian and goods movement, as well as opportunities for other safety and mobility improvements to existing facilities. 4. Arterials, Collectors & Local Road Improvements. The Plan also recommends improvements for the remaining streets within the City of North Vancouver, by focusing on specific Major Arterials, Minor Arterials & Collectors, and Local Streets. 5. Parking Strategies. In 2004, the City completed a City-Wide Parking Strategy, which was intended to meet the City s goals to increase the economic potential of the City s commercial areas while maintaining the residents quality of life. The Strategy recommended maintaining the City s current system of time-based (free) on-street parking with additional measures to increase turnover of on-street parking and to better utilise off-street stalls. 7

14 The Plan recommends moving forward with these recommendations, particularly as they relate to the Travel Demand Management (TDM) strategy (see below). Pay parking may be considered in the future if required. 6. Protect Neighbourhoods. The Plan supports traffic calming initiatives throughout the City to ensure residents safety and neighbourhood livability. The Plan recommends providing Traffic Calmed Neighbourhood signage in each neighbourhood where traffic calming measures have been implemented. Goods & Services Movement Strategy The movement of goods and services around the City is critical to supporting the local, provincial, and national economies, but at the same time can have impacts on local neighbourhoods that need to be managed. To that end, the Goods and Services Movement Strategy identifies several initiatives designed to maintain efficient movement of goods in the City while minimizing community impacts. 1. Minimize Delays Along Truck Routes, by coordinating traffic signals along truck routes, enhancing movement for trucks along key corridors, and maintaining left-turn bays at all major intersections along designated truck routes. 2. Signage Strategy to ensure that truck drivers understand the designated truck routes in the City of North Vancouver. 3. Effective Use of Freight Infrastructure connecting Port facilities through the development of a broader regional strategy that not only makes effective use of Port facilities, but maximizes the available transportation systems for both rail and road that connect with each area. Travel Demand Management (TDM) Strategy A major component of developing a sustainable transportation plan includes managing existing transportation infrastructure, providing attractive services and facilities to encourage alternative modes, and developing supportive strategies using a demand-oriented approach. The Travel Demand Management (TDM) Strategy includes regional initiatives, municipal programs, and private sector and other agency initiatives. Key components of the TDM Strategy include: 8

15 1. Integrated Land Use and Transportation Planning. Land use policies and decisions within the City can have the greatest influence on travel demands and mode choice. To that end, the TDM strategy highlights those land use policy directions contained in the OCP that are fundamental toward a sustainable transportation system. 2. Parking Management Strategies. One way to discourage excessive automobile use and encourage the use of other modes of transportation is to limit the supply of parking. Those recommended parking supply strategies to be implemented in the City include: Bylaw parking maximums Reduced and flexible zoning bylaw requirements Restriction of principal use facilities Parking permit areas. 3. Leadership. If the City wants to encourage other agencies and private sector businesses to implement TDM measures, the City must lead by its actions for its own employees. The Transportation Plan will recommend a number of initiatives that the City has begun to encourage its own employees to use alternate forms of transportation. 4. Education & Awareness. TDM is all about changing people s behaviour. However, many residents are not aware of the transportation options available to them. An important part of a TDM program and initiative is marketing and education efforts intended to encourage a shift in travel patterns and greater use of alternative modes of transportation. Summary The Official Community Plan outlines the City s long-term goals and objectives for the development of the community along several Policy Paths, such as land use, transportation, parks and greenways, leisure and culture, and the environment. Each Policy Path addresses a different topic, each with a set of goals and objectives through which the City will manage future planning and development. As shown in Table ES-1 on the following page, the Transportation Plan is strongly linked to the achievement of the City s long-term goals within all Policy Paths, as transportation influences many aspects of a community s overall function and quality of life. Implementation of the Transportation Plan will directly and indirectly help the City to achieve its long-term goals within each Policy Path and to move forward toward its overall Community Vision. 9

16 Table ES-1: Transportation Plan Relationship to OCP Policy Paths Official Community Plan Policy Paths Transportation Plan features Sense of Place Land Use Transportation, Mobility & Access Community Well-Being Environment Parks & Greenways Leisure & Culture Community Infrastructure Economy & Economic Development Financial Planning Pedestrian Plan 1. Pedestrian Areas & Generators 2. Pedestrian Treatments 3. Greenways 1. Bicycle Network 2. Design Guidelines 3. Bicycle Support Strategies 4. Greenways Transit Strategy 1. Improved Accessibility to Transit 2. Increased Local Frequency & Coverage 3. Expanded Frequent Transit Network 4. Transit Priority Treatments 5. U-Pass Program 6. Expanded SeaBus & Enhance Terminal Road Network Plan 1. Updated Roadway Classification 2. Emergency & Disaster Response Routes 3. MRN Improvement Strategy 4. Arterials, Collectors & Local Roads 5. Parking Strategies 6. Protect Neighbourhoods Goods & Services Movement Strategy 1. Minimize Truck Route Delays 2. Signage Strategy 3. Effective Use of Freight Infrastructure TDM Strategy 1. Land Use & Transportation Plans 2. Parking Management 3. Leadership 4. Education & Awareness 10

17 As shown in Table ES-1, each of the core components of the plan contains several inter-related features designed to achieve the overall policy objectives for the City. However, significant costs are involved with implementing many of these features. In order to ensure the success of the Transportation Plan, an implementation strategy will be developed that will prioritize these features while taking into account the financial resources available to the City. Prioritization of the key features of the Transportation Plan will be based in part on how each of these features satisfy the City s long term goals as outlined in the City s Official Community Plan. 11

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19 1.0 INTRODUCTION The City of North Vancouver is a relatively small, but well-established, community on the North Shore of the Greater Vancouver region. The City has evolved over the past 150 years from a lumber and shipping town known as Moodyville to a thriving urbanized municipality of over 48,000 residents today. Unlike in other suburban communities in the Lower Mainland, however, the City of North Vancouver has no opportunities for further greenfield development. Future growth in the City will occur through rejuvenation and redevelopment of existing residential, commercial, and industrial areas. An example is the redevelopment of former shipyards at the City s Waterfront, now underway. When complete, the Waterfront developments will offer premier residential and commercial space, complemented by significant and high-profile community amenities. In well-developed municipalities, the enhancement of transportation facilities and services such as roadway networks, transit, bicycle routes, and pedestrian facilities must fit with the existing community and evolve as the City grows. This often requires non-traditional and creative transportation solutions that achieve City goals, while minimizing impacts on existing neighbourhoods and residents. 1.1 Purpose of the Plan It has been over 15 years since the last transportation plan was created for the City and District. That plan focussed almost entirely on the roadway network and to a much lesser degree on transit. Since that time, the City has also developed a new Official Community Plan, as well as other supporting documents and programs, which emphasize a vision of becoming a more sustainable community that is vibrant, diverse, and liveable. The City has chosen to develop a new sustainable, multi-modal Transportation Plan to serve as a road map for the next decade and beyond and to help it achieve 13

20 many of the long-term goals and objectives outlined in the OCP. Implementation of the Transportation Plan will directly and indirectly help the City to achieve goals outlined within each Policy Path in the OCP and to move toward its overall Community Vision. It will also help to integrate the Transportation Plan with many of the City s other planning initiatives, such as the land use and parks and greenways strategies. The Transportation Plan will also support the City s goal of reducing greenhouse gas reduction emissions by emphasizing transportation alternatives to the automobile, such as walking, cycling, and transit, and by providing a strategy to manage travel demand. In the long term, effective implementation of the Transportation Plan will help the City to achieve many of its goals: A transportation system with more travel choices for residents and workers A people-oriented, accessible and vibrant community Reduced local greenhouse gas emissions A healthy local economy supported by efficient movement of goods and services A more efficient road network that safely and effectively accommodates all modes Collaboration with our neighbouring municipalities and other agencies Community well being through active living Sense of place through great places, streetscapes and paths for people to interact. 1.2 Study Process The development of the was based on the findings of an interim report and a discussion paper. The interim report presented the overall goals and principles for the Transportation Plan, reviewed the current transportation system in the City, and discussed key issues that have been identified through several meetings with community stakeholders and further 14

21 technical analysis. These issues have been considered in the development of the improvement strategies in subsequent stages of the process. The discussion paper developed preliminary improvement strategies and summarized potential features to be included in the for the City of North Vancouver. As shown in Figure 1, the development of this has involved an in-depth review of the existing transportation system in North Vancouver and consultation with stakeholders and the public to identify key issues affecting the City. These issues have been used to direct the identification and evaluation of various improvement strategies for all modes of travel, which have then been refined through analysis and further public consultation to develop the long-term Transportation Plan. Subsequent to the adoption of the Transportation Plan, an implementation strategy will be developed to identify priorities and a timeline for completion of the improvement strategies. The implementation strategy will take into consideration the financial resources available to the City, with the maintenance of existing infrastructure taking priority. Figure 1: Process for Developing the City s Transportation Plan Review of Existing Transportation Systems Public Consultation Identification of Key Issues Interim Report #1: Transportation System Goals & Key Issues Preliminary Improvement Strategies Public Consultation Long-Term Transportation Plan Implementation Strategy / Prioritization 1.3 Consultation The Transportation Plan has been developed with broad participation of the North Vancouver community to ensure that the Plan reflects the values and interests of the community (see Figure 2). The Plan has been guided by a steering committee of City staff representing several municipal departments, and there were also several opportunities for public input through various public forums as shown below. A summary of the public input is provided in Appendix D. Public open houses. Two Open Houses have been held to gather input from community residents. The first Open House was held on November 1, 2006 to gather input from residents on the key transportation issues facing the community, and to solicit ideas on potential improvements. The second Open House was held on November 8, 2007 to obtain feedback on the preliminary features identified in the Transportation Plan. Both Open Houses were 15

22 held at City Hall, and open house materials were available for public viewing for the entire week in which the open houses were held. Exit surveys were also distributed at these Open Houses to provide community members an opportunity to provide feedback. Figure 2: Consultation Figure 2: Consultation Advisory Planning Commission Meetings Public Workshops & Open Houses Transportation Plan City Council Meetings Public workshops. Two interactive Meetings with Other Stakeholders public workshops were held throughout the study process. The first workshop was held on November 7, 2006 to identify issues, and the second workshop was held on November 5, 2007 to discuss preliminary features of the Transportation Plan. The workshops were attended by invited representatives of community associations, businesses, emergency services, community groups (such as youth and seniors), and other agencies. City Council meetings. Council is ultimately responsible for the final decisions and approval of the Transportation Plan. Council has been kept up-to-date on the progress of the Plan through staff reports, and also through a presentation by the project team on May 14, 2007 and a workshop on October 22, Advisory Planning Commission meetings. The City s Advisory Planning Commission (APC) has been involved in the development of the Plan through participation in workshops with the project team. Several workshops with the APC have been held to-date, including a workshop with the APC and other advisory groups on January 9, Other stakeholders. Key external agencies responsible for transportation planning within and around the City have been consulted and have been kept up-to-date on the progress of the study. They have also been invited to provide input to the Transportation Plan at key milestones, including the interactive public workshops. Agencies involved in these consultations include TransLink, the District of North Vancouver, the Vancouver Port Authority, and the Squamish Nation. 16

23 2.0 TRANSPORTATION PLAN OVERVIEW The Transportation Plan is intended to provide the City with a clear vision of the multi-modal transportation system to serve the residents and businesses of the community for the next 20 years and beyond. It is designed to support those modes that the City wishes to prioritize namely walking, transit, and cycling to help achieve the City s OCP goals and to work toward a balanced transportation system that is strongly integrated with the City s other plans and programs, and with our neighbouring municipalities. 2.1 Official Community Plan Goals The Official Community Plan outlines the City s long-term goals and objectives for the development of the community along several Policy Paths, such as land use, transportation, parks and greenways, leisure and culture, and the environment. Each Policy Path addresses a different topic, each with a set of goals and objectives through which the City will manage future planning and development. As shown in Table 1 on the following page, the Transportation Plan is strongly linked to the achievement of the City s long-term goals within all Policy Paths, as transportation influences many aspects of a community s overall function and quality of life. Implementation of the Transportation Plan will directly and indirectly help the City to achieve its long-term goals within each Policy Path and to move forward toward its overall Community Vision. 2.2 Transportation Plan Goals In support of the City s Community Vision and the Policy Paths set out in the OCP, the following goals are used to guide and measure the success of the Transportation Plan: Liveability. The Transportation Plan will contribute toward the City s overall Vision of becoming a vibrant, diverse and highly liveable community, where quality of life and community well-being are vital. Mobility. The Transportation Plan will support the safe, efficient, and accessible movement of people, goods, and services throughout the City and beyond our boundaries. 17

24 Table 1: Transportation Plan Relationship to OCP Policy Paths Official Community Plan Policy Paths Transportation Plan features Sense of Place Land Use Transportation, Mobility & Access Community Well-Being Environment Parks & Greenways Leisure & Culture Community Infrastructure Economy & Economic Development Financial Planning Pedestrian Plan 1. Pedestrian Areas & Generators 2. Pedestrian Treatments 3. Greenways 1. Bicycle Network 2. Design Guidelines 3. Bicycle Support Strategies 4. Greenways Transit Strategy 1. Improved Accessibility to Transit 2. Increased Local Frequency & Coverage 3. Expanded Frequent Transit Network 4. Transit Priority Treatments 5. U-Pass Program 6. Expanded SeaBus & Enhance Terminal Road Network Plan 1. Updated Roadway Classification 2. Emergency & Disaster Response Routes 3. MRN Improvement Strategy 4. Arterials, Collectors & Local Roads 5. Parking Strategies 6. Protect Neighbourhoods Goods & Services Movement Strategy 1. Minimize Truck Route Delays 2. Signage Strategy 3. Effective Use of Freight Infrastructure TDM Strategy 1. Land Use & Transportation Plans 2. Parking Management 3. Leadership 4. Education & Awareness 18

25 Integration. The Transportation Plan will support the development and integration of all modes of travel in order to offer more choice to the residents, workforce, and visitors of the City. Affordability. The Transportation Plan will recognize the financial constraints of the City and promote the development of transportation infrastructure and services that will best support the goals of the Plan. Environment. The Transportation Plan will support alternative means of transportation, namely walking, cycling and transit and promote strategies to manage travel demand in an attempt to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions. Transportation Plan Goals: Liveability Mobility Integration Affordability Environment 2.3 Context The first interim report presented a comprehensive overview of existing transportation conditions in the City, along with key issues limiting the achievement of the overall Community Vision and OCP goals and objectives. The sections below summarize key background information influencing transportation in North Vancouver. Key Facts & Finding identified in the Interim Report #1 for each primary travel mode are included at the introduction to the chapter for each respective mode of transportation Demographics Decisions regarding land use density, mix, and form influence the amount and type of travel that is generated within a community. Key facts and findings regarding demographics and land use in North Vancouver include: The City has been growing at an annual rate of 1.5%, well below the Metro Vancouver growth rate of 2.3% per year. The population density in the City is relatively high at 3,700 people/km 2, comparable to New Westminster and much higher than the Metro Vancouver average of 690 people/km 2. Higher densities generally support higher transit usage. Median family incomes in the City are relatively low, as compared to other parts of the North Shore and the rest of Metro Vancouver. This may support the use of non-automobile modes of travel. 19

26 Although the City is home to a similar percentage of seniors as found throughout Metro Vancouver (24% aged 55 or over), nearly two thirds of the City s seniors live in either the Central Lonsdale or Lower Lonsdale neighbourhoods. This large concentration of seniors presents an opportunity for accessible transit services in these areas. The Lonsdale Regional Town Centre is characterized by high-density mixed uses that support higher transit usage, walking, and cycling. The large employment areas around Capilano Mall, Harbourside, and the AutoMall represent a potentially large and untapped market for transit services Travel Characteristics Travel patterns generated by the City s residents and workforce are shaped by land use characteristics and the transportation system on the North Shore. Key facts and findings about travel characteristics include: Fully 70% of daily trips made by City residents remain on the North Shore. These patterns indicate a strong need for transit services that serve key destinations on the North Shore and point to the importance of attractive and safe pedestrian and cycling facilities, which are ideally suited to short-distance travel. About 9% of all the City s daily trips are made on transit, and a further 11% of daily trips are bicycle or pedestrian trips, with the remaining 80% of daily trips made by car. However, within the Lonsdale Regional Town Centre, only 50% of trips are made by car and a full 25% are made by transit and 23% on foot. This reinforces the City s land use goals for the Town Centre area and show how denser development supports lower car use. Overall, the City s transit, cycling, and walking mode shares compare favourably with the rest of the GVRD. 2.4 Features of the Transportation Plan The long-term plan for the City of North Vancouver s multi-modal transportation system is presented in the following sections. This plan presents a vision for each of the primary modes of travel namely, walking, cycling, transit, and the road network. In addition, this Plan provides guidance regarding a Travel Demand Management (TDM) strategy. This Pan has been developed based on the findings of the interim reports and feedback from City Council and staff, the Advisory Planning Commission, the public, and other stakeholders. 20

27 Each component of the contains several features designed to achieve the overall policy objectives for the City of North Vancouver. Although these features are grouped by mode for the purpose of discussion, they are very much interdependent. For example, the Road Network Plan describes features for the Major Road Network that include provisions for enhanced pedestrian facilities as well as transit priority measures. This approach ensures that the resulting transportation system improvements are seamless and that the overall vision for a sustainable community is achieved. To this end, the Plan is not a road building strategy. Unlike traditional transportation plans, all roadway network improvements are designed to support priority modes walking, cycling, transit and goods movement along dedicated routes. Improvements for general purpose traffic are concentrated on safety issues and making other modes of travel more attractive. The key features of the Transportation Plan are illustrated in Figure 3 and are described in detail in the following sections. Once the long-term plan is finalized, an implementation strategy and program will be prepared, which will outline implementation constraints and opportunities, costs, and prioritization of improvements. 21

28 Figure 3: Key Features of the Pedestrian Plan 1. Pedestrian Areas & Generators 2. Pedestrian Treatments 3. Greenways 1. Bicycle Network 2. Design Guidelines 3. Bicycle Support Strategies 4. Greenways Transit Strategy 1. Improved Accessibility to Transit 2. Increased Local Area Frequency and Coverage 3. Expanded Frequent Transit Network 4. Transit Priority Treatments 5. U-Pass Program 6. Expanded SeaBus Service and Enhance Terminal A Sustainable Transportation Plan Road Network Plan 1. Updated Roadway Classification System 2. Emergency and Disaster Response Routes 3. Major Road Network Improvement Strategies 4. Arterials, Collectors & Local Road Enhancements 5. Parking Strategies 6. Protect Neighbourhoods Goods & Services Movement Strategy 1. Minimized Delays Along Truck Routes 2. Signage Strategy 3. Effective Use of Freight Infrastructure Travel Demand Management Strategy 1. Integrated Land Use and Transportation Planning 2. Parking Management Strategies 3. Leadership 4. Education & Awareness 22

29 3.0 PEDESTRIAN PLAN The Long-Term Plan Pedestrian Plan 1. Pedestrian Areas 2. Pedestrian Treatments 3. Greenways Transit Strategy Road Network Plan Goods and Services Movement Strategy As a relatively compact community with a strong transit-oriented commercial core, the City of North Vancouver is well suited to walking for local travel, despite challenging topography in some areas. The City already has an extensive network of sidewalks and trails, although there are some missing links in the network, and some newer areas are without pedestrian facilities. The City is committed to being a pedestrian friendly community and supporting walking as a primary mode of transportation. Through many of its policy paths, the City s OCP strongly endorses the development of a walkable city to support healthy lifestyles, environmental stewardship, and reduced infrastructure demands. The Pedestrian Plan is an essential feature of a sustainable transportation system and ensures that the City is an even more walkable city for residents and visitors. These initiatives are outlined in this section of the Plan. TDM Strategy 3.1 Key Facts & Findings: Walking The City of North Vancouver is ideally suited to becoming a walking community. However, the following issues are affecting walkability of the community: Limited sidewalk coverage in some newer areas and missing sidewalk links in established areas. Pedestrian safety and security are affected by difficult crossings, limited sidewalk coverage, and insufficient lighting in some areas. Narrow and obstructed sidewalks, physical barriers (Upper Levels Highway, Marine Drive, railway, steep grades, etc.), and limited east-west connectivity affect the appeal and accessibility of walking. The overall lower priority of pedestrians can make walking difficult. Quality of pedestrian facilities in commercial areas is inconsistent. 23

30 3.2 External Initiatives As walking trips tend to cover relatively shorter distances than other modes, there are relatively few external initiatives that will influence the City s pedestrian network. The District of North Vancouver shares a vision of becoming more walkable, and some of their initiatives will enhance connectivity for City residents, particularly near the municipal boundary. The District is currently developing a Pedestrian Master Plan, which will identify the District s long-term priorities for improving the municipal pedestrian network. In the near term, this will likely focus on improving connections to, from, and within key walking areas, such as Edgemont Village and Lynn Valley. The District s pedestrian initiatives will complement those efforts undertaken by the City so that the overall walking network on the North Shore is improved over time. The Long-Term Plan Pedestrian Plan 1. Pedestrian Areas 2. Pedestrian Treatments 3. Greenways Transit Strategy Road Network Plan Goods and Services Movement Strategy TDM Strategy 3.3 The City s Long-Term Pedestrian Plan The focus of the City s efforts in the coming years will be on completing key elements of the sidewalk and trail network, as well as enhancing pedestrian facilities in major pedestrian areas so that walking becomes a highly convenient and attractive mode choice for more residents and visitors. In some areas of the City, the provision of sidewalks to complete the network What does the Pedestrian Plan Include? 1. Pedestrian Areas & Generators 2. Pedestrian Treatments 3. Greenways and provide continuity for walking trips is essential. For many areas, such as the City core, where walking will be most prominent, extraordinary treatments are required to make walking even more attractive. These will require treatments within and leading to those areas that go beyond the minimum standard and are accessible for all levels of mobility. As the City s population ages and the diversity of people living in the community increases, pedestrian facilities will be designed to overcome accessibility issues and challenges of today. The Pedestrian Plan identifies the need to expand and upgrade the sidewalk and trail network throughout the City to support walking as a primary mode of travel. However, the Plan also recognizes that certain areas of the City will generate more pedestrian demand over a larger area than others. To this end, the Pedestrian Plan identifies four types of pedestrian areas, in which different implementation priorities and treatments may be considered to reflect these differing levels of demand. 24

31 1. Pedestrian Areas & Generators The Long-Term Plan Pedestrian Plan 1. Pedestrian Areas 2. Pedestrian Treatments 3. Greenways Transit Strategy Road Network Plan Goods and Services Movement Strategy TDM Strategy The Pedestrian Plan defines four key pedestrian areas in which to identify design treatments that will make North Vancouver an even more walkable community in the long-term. For planning purposes, the catchment for each pedestrian area has been defined based on the existing street grid and other features, such as topographical limitations, Highway 1 and the railway corridor. However, a radius of approximately 300 metres has generally been used to define these areas for each pedestrian generator. The perimeter of this area is reflective of a four- to fiveminute walk and considered to be a reasonable distance to generators for those individuals that walk the entire trip, or use transit or drive to the area and then walk to the specific generator. Because of the proximity of many pedestrian generators in the City, these areas will typically overlap and pedestrian activity closer to the generator will be greatest. The discussion below briefly describes each pedestrian area in the City which is illustrated in Map Pedestrian Precincts are those areas where walking could be the primary mode of travel and should be prioritized. These are areas that support a diverse mix of higher-density land uses that attract multi-purpose trip making and where significant volumes of pedestrians can be expected. They are both walking destinations and areas within which people would likely walk between several locations for a variety of needs, such as to home, work, shopping or personal business. What Are the Pedestrian Areas? Pedestrian Precincts Primary Pedestrian Generators Secondary Pedestrian Generators Low Density Pedestrian Areas The Lonsdale Regional Town Centre is already a pedestrian precinct, reflected in high pedestrian demands at many intersections along Lonsdale Avenue and Esplanade and adjacent to the Lions Gate Hospital. The Marine Drive corridor is an emerging pedestrian precinct and will become a more prominent destination for pedestrians as redevelopment occurs in the coming years. Pedestrian facilities sidewalks and crossings throughout and surrounding these areas will be made attractive for people of all mobility levels. 2. Primary Pedestrian Generators are those land uses within the City that will typically generate a higher than average number of walking trips. As such, pedestrian facilities in the immediate area will be provided to encourage walking to and from the area. The specific uses identified as primary pedestrian generators are: 25

32 Public secondary schools Community centres North Vancouver library Other key employment areas, such as the Harbourside Business Park and the 1 st Street industrial area. 3. Secondary Pedestrian Generators include those generators that will attract moderate volumes of pedestrians and where attractive pedestrian facilities will be needed to increase pedestrian travel. These specific uses are identified in the Pedestrian Plan as secondary pedestrian generators and include: Minor and auto-oriented commercial developments Playing fields and parks Public elementary and private schools. 4. Low Density Pedestrian Areas essentially represent the remaining areas of the City where lower volumes of pedestrians are expected, and where pedestrian facilities will be required to encourage people to walk. These areas comprise low density residential and light industrial developments. The Long-Term Plan Pedestrian Plan 1. Pedestrian Areas 2. Pedestrian Treatments 3. Greenways Transit Strategy Road Network Plan Goods and Services Movement Strategy TDM Strategy 2. Pedestrian Treatments As previously described, the Pedestrian Plan includes a range of treatments for each pedestrian area. In this regard, the areas that could potentially generate the most walking should receive extraordinary pedestrian treatments to encourage people to walk and make these areas people places. The following discussion highlights the range of pedestrian treatments that are recommended within each of the pedestrian areas to help make the City of North Vancouver more walkable. The focus of the City s efforts in the coming years will be on completing key elements of the sidewalk and greenways network. Sidewalk standards for within the City for sidewalks on both sides of arterial and collector roads and one side of local roads will suit most areas. Areas surrounding pedestrian precincts, primary pedestrian generators, and secondary pedestrian generators would benefit from sidewalks on both sides of all streets. 26